Chronic wound treatment in elderly and geriatric patients

Abstract

SummaryIn Germany, there has been a continuous increase in life expectancy for more than 135 years. The number of people aged 80 years and over will triple until 2050. Chronic wounds in different aetiologies will increase in our ageing population, with a parallel growth in numbers of comorbidities and geriatric syndromes. Beside vascular difficulties of wound healing and physiological changes in skin conditions among the elderly, we are challenged by the treatment of comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus, neurological diseases (Polyneuropathy), the decrease of mobility and the increase of joint troubles, as well as cognitive, emotional and motoric deficits and even dementia. On the basis of the expected progress in age, we have selectively analysed our patients from the age of 80 up to the age of 100 years with chronic wounds, leg and foot ulcers, treated in a specialised wound care centre. Further, we performed a statistical evaluation for the geriatric medical department with focus on geriatric patients with additional wound-healing problems.